Hollow sphere and structural elements for constructing same

ABSTRACT

A plurality of structural elements, having dished bodies presenting convex outer and concave inner surfaces and corresponding in shape to that of a geometrical subsection of an even fractional portion of a spherical shell, are closely associated and preferably interfitted by means of broad and flat tongues and corresponding recesses, that are spaced below such convex outer surfaces and preferably lie substantially wholly between the convex and concave surfaces, to form a hollow sphere. Both the tongues and recesses have mating nubs for interlocking the individual elements together when interfitted to form a sphere. The structural elements can either be positively secured to each other or left free for easy disassembly. The convex outer surfaces of various of these structural elements may be colored or otherwise treated differently to provide a patterned exterior surface for the sphere, and the mated contiguous edges of such structural elements may be joined, adhesively or otherwise.

United States Patent Novak [451 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] HOLLOW SPHERE ANDSTRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTING [21] Appl. No.: 38,744

[52] US. Cl. ..52/80, 52/591, 35/46 A, 52/81 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04b 1/32[58] Field of Search.....52/8l, 80, 591, 589; 35/46 A; 273/157 R, 157 A[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,409,082 3/ 1922 Corbett..273/157 R 2,406,164 8/ 1946 Raisz ..35/46 A 2,987,318 6/1961 Hammer..35/46 A X 3,055,123 9/1962 Wiga] ..35/46 A 3,578,331 5/1971 Debast..35/46 A 2,882,714 4/1959 Gagle ..52/591 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,164,405 2/ 1958 France ..35/46 A 81,512 10/1955Netherlands ..52/81 Canada ..52/588 Australia ..52/144 PrimaryExaminer-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Henry E. RaduazoAttorney-Mallinckrodt & Cornaby [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of structuralelements, having dished bodies presenting convex outer and concave innersurfaces and corresponding in shape to that of a geometrical subsectionof an even fractional portion of a spherical shell, are closelyassociated and preferably interfitted by means of broad and flat tonguesand corresponding recesses, that are spaced below such convex outersurfaces and preferably lie substantially wholly between the convex andconcave surfaces, to form a hollow sphere. Both the tongues and recesseshave mating nubs for interlocking the individual elements together wheninterfitted to form a sphere. The structural elements can either bepositively secured to each other or left free for easy disassembly. Theconvex outer surfaces of various of these structural elements may be.colored or otherwise treated differently to provide a patterned exteriorsurface for the sphere, and the mated contiguous edges of suchstructural elements may be joined, adhesively or otherwise.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 1 9 m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

NOVAK ATTORNEYS PHILLIP J.

PKTEN'TEDsEP 19 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. PHILLIP J. NOVAK AT TORNE Y5HOLLOW SPHERE AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTING SAME BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION was a major objective to provide for easilyconstructing a sturdy, hollow sphere from a number of relatively small,identical structural elements, at least some of which, preferably, havetheir outer surfaces differently colored or otherwise treated so apattern for the external surface of the sphere can be produced inconstructing such sphere.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a pluralityof rigid or semi-rigid, structural elements are provided in any suitablemanner, for example by injection molding of a plastic material or bymolding a foamed plastic material such as Styrofoam. Each of thesestructural elements has a dished body corresponding in shape to that ofa geometrical subsection of an even fractional portion of a sphericalshell. For example and as a preferred form of the invention, the dishedbody may be one-third geometrical sub-section of a one-eighth section ofa spherical shell of some appropriate diameter for the purpose to whichthe completed hollow sphere is to be put. The dished body has a convexouter surface and a series of tongues and corresponding recessesextending along its peripheral edges and lying below such outer surfaceand having mating nubs whereby a number of the individual structuralelements can be closely interfitted and interlocked to produce a hollowsphere. The convex outer surfaces of the respective individualstructural elements can be differently colored or otherwisecontrastingly-finished, so various patterns can be provided inconstructing the sphere.

THE DRAWINGS Several forms of structural elements and hollow spheresconstructed therefrom, representing the best mode presently contemplatedof carrying out the invention, are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a preferred form of the sphere of theinvention, showing in dotted lines hidden interfitting parts of threeindividual structural elements of identical form making up a one-eighthsection of the sphere;

FIG. 2 a top plan view drawn to alarger scale showing one of thestructural elements per se, hidden recesses being shown by dotted lines;

FIG. 3, a view in perspective of the structural element of FIG. 2,looking toward one corner thereof;

FIG. 4, a view in perspective looking toward the tops of two of thestructural elements of FIG. 2 fitted together;

posite edges of the body,

FIG. 5, a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG.4 and drawn to a larger scale;

. FIG. 6, atop plan view showing two structural elements ofcomplimentary but not identical form about to be interfitted, each beinga one-sixth geometrical section of a one-eighth section of a sphere;

FIG. 7, a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1 but showing a spherebuilt up from the structural elements of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9, similar views, but showing spheres built up from stilldifferent forms, respectively, of identical structural elementsconforming to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS In the form shown inFIGS. 1-5, the structural element 10, FIGS. 2 and 3, of the inventioncomprises a dished body 11 having shape corresponding to that of aone-third geometrical subsection 12 (see A,B,C,D), FIG. 1, of aone-eighth fractional portion 13 (see A, E, F), also FIG. 1, of aspherical shell 14. Interfitting means in the form of projecting tongues15 and corresponding receiving recesses 16 alternate in seriesarrangement extending around the peripheral edges l7 of such structuralelement. Both the tongues and the recesses lie below the convex outersurface 11a of the body 11. In this form of structural element there arefour of the edges 17 and a pair of tongues 15 projecting from oppositeends, respectively, of each of two opwith a recess 16 therebetween, anda single tongue 15 projecting intermediate the length of each of theother two opposite edges of the body between two recesses 16.

The tongues 15 and recesses 16 may be formed as shown, with mating nubend members 15a and 16a,

respectively, see particularly FIG. 5, or may be formed in someotherway. Other forms may also be adopted. Thus, the dished body 11 in FIG. 5could be thinner and the recesses formed, by displacing material belowthe convex surface, as by stamping a metal or plastic plate. A possibledisadvantage here, however, would be the intrusion of the tongues intothe surface pattern of the sphere.

In FIG. 6, a triangular structural element 18 is shown about to beclosely interfitted with a conforming but not identical triangularstructural element designated 18a. Here, tongues 19 similar to thetongues 15 project from the peripheral edges of each of the structuralelements 18 and 18a and corresponding receiving recesses 20 are formedtherebetween. As shown in FIG. 7, each of these structural elements isonly a one-sixth geometrical subsection of a one-eighth fractionalportion of a spherical shell 21, or, stated somewhat differently, is aone-third geometrical subsection of a one-sixteenth fractional portionof the spherical shell 21. Actually, each structural element 18constitutes one-half of the structural element 10 cut diagonally fromthe side of a recess at one corner of such structural element to theside of a recess at the diagonally opposite corner of such structuralelement, the diagonal edge of one of such structural elements beingprovided with a tongue and the diagonal edge of the other being providedwith a receiving recess for the tongue.

In FIG. 8, triangular structural elements 22, each a one-thirdgeometrical subsection of a one-eighth fractional portion of a sphericalshell 23, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, are formed with differentnumbers of tongues 24 and corresponding receiving recesses 25 inassociation with the respective edges of the triangle.

In FIG. 9, the structural elements 26 each have four edges,'there beingone tongue 27 and one corresponding receiving recess 28 associated witheach edge. As in the embodiments of FIGS. l-5, and 8, the structuralelements 26 of this embodiment are each a one-third geometricalsubsection of a one-eighth fractional portion of a spherical shell 29.

It should be noted that the tongues and recesses may alternate in acontinuous series around the peripheral edges of the structural element,as in the respective embodiments of FIGS. 1, 8, and 9, or may haveinterposed edge length portions without either tongue or recess as at 30in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

In all forms of the invention the fitting or interfitting means may besecured together in various ways depending upon the material used forthe structural elements and the use to which the spherical structure isto be put, but it should be realized that the individual structuralelements will hold together satisfactorily for many uses by reason ofthe interlocking fit provided by the mating nubs.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect tocertain preferred forms thereof, it is to be understood that manyvariations are possible without departing from the inventive conceptsparticularly pointed out in the claims.

I claim:

1. A structural element adapted to fit with like structural elements toform a hollow sphere, comprising a body having broad outer and innersurfaces and shape corresponding to that of a geometrical subsection ofan even fractional portion of a spherical shell, so that an assembly ofa sufiicient number of similar structural elements will form a sphericalshell; a series of individual broad tongues and alternatingcorresponding recesses disposed about the peripheral edge margins ofsaid body as substantially planar parts thereof, said tongues and saidrecesses being spaced from the outer surface of said body and havingmating nubs on outer broad surfaces of said tongues and on inner bodysurfaces defining said recesses, respectively, said nubs being arrangedto interlock as structural means for holding interfitted structuralelements together in the construction of a sphere which has no visibletongue and recess joinders.

2. A structural element in accordance with claim 1, molded to shape froma plastic material.

3. A plurality of the elements of claim 1 closely fitted together in theform of a hollow sphere.

4. The hollow sphere of claim 3,wherein various of I the individualelements have their respective outer convex surfaces differentlyfinished to provide a patterned exterior surface for the sphere.

* II I!

1. A structural element adapted to fit with like structural elements toform a hollow sphere, comprising a body having broad outer and innersurfaces and shape corresponding to that of a geometrical subsection ofan even fractional portion of a spherical shell, so that an assembly ofa sufficient number of similar structural elements will form a sphericalshell; a series of individual broad tongues and alternatingcorresponding recesses disposed about the peripheral edge margins ofsaid body as substantially planar parts thereof, said tongues and saidrecesses being spaced from the outer surface of said body and havingmating nubs on outer broad surfaces of said tongues and on inner bodysurfaces defining said recesses, respectively, said nubs being arrangedto interlock as structural means for holding interfitted structuralelements together in the construction of a sphere which has no visibletongue and recess joinders.
 2. A structural element in accordance withclaim 1, molded to shape from a plastic material.
 3. A plurality of theelements of claim 1 closely fitted together in the form of a hollowsphere.
 4. The hollow sphere of claim 3, wherein various of theindividual elements have their respective outer convex surfacesdifferently finished to provide a patterned exterior surface for thesphere.